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From: stevej@hpcpbla.HP.COM (Steve Jerman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: DAT drive on HP9000/800 ??
Message-ID: <9740003@hpcpbla.HP.COM>
Date: 25 Jan 91 10:30:21 GMT
References: <1991Jan24.175544.23068@objy.com>
Organization: HP Computer Peripherals Bristol, UK
Lines: 53

Hi Bruce,

   Yup you've got one! The 'DDS' badge stands for Digital Data Storage
   which is the format used on the tape.

   OK heres the info you wanted:

Tape Capacity.
     1.3GBytes. The drive uses a 60M tape (the same as a 2 hour audio tape).

Best tape to use.
     HP (well I'd have to say that wouldn't I), but really we spent an
     awful lot of time and trouble qualifying different tapes brands
     and if you really are interested in data integrity and relying on
     getting the data back off the tape, a few extra dollars should be
     worth it. Note that the HP prices are still about a quarter the
     price of a quarter inch cartridge tape.

     However, if not, bare in mind that we only support the HP tape and
     you may find it difficult to get help if you can't get your vital
     database off A.N. Others cruddy but *really* cheap tape. If you
     want to use Audio tape in the drive make sure it's a good brand,
     like Maxell or TDK or Sony or someone.
        
Use.
  If you have a 822, 832, 842 or 852 with built in DAT drive then
  cpio, dd, tar etc work no problem, O/S software is also distributed
  on DAT tape. Only thing to note is that within reason the bigger the
  block size the better. For instance, use the B option with cpio or a
  blocking factor of 20 (ie 10K blocks) with tar.


If you need more info on the product or DAT in general, please feel
free to send me your surface address and I will get someone to
send you a datasheet or other info.

Steve Jerman
Hewlett Packard
Computer Peripherals Bristol

Address:	     Email:
  Filton Road		stevej@hpcpbla.bri.hp.com
  Stoke Gifford
  Bristol
  BS12 6QZ
  UK

Phone:                   Fax:
(44) 272 799910 x22424   (44) 272 236091

This response does not represent the official position of, or statement by,
the Hewlett-Packard Company.  The above data is provided for informational
purposes only.  It is supplied without warranty of any kind.